Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1887-02-17
BILL VETOED.
President vetoes the Dependent
Pension Bill.
He Is Not willing to Approve % nm Ere.
senting the Objections uc See. In
This One. and Therefore
Netocs ft.
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fHf fhtNinfNT'S MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l2.-Tho President
late yesterday afternoon put an end to all
doubt and speculation about his attitude on
the Dependent Pension bill by sending to
the House a message vetoiug the bill. The
President. in his veto message. observes nj
tho outset that this IA the iirst general hill
that has been sanctioned by Congress since
the close Of the late civil war, permitting
pensions To soldiers and sailors who served
In that war upon the ground Of service and
present disability alone, and in the absence
oil any injuries received by tho casualties
or incidents of such service.
The President then goes ON 10 review the
pension legislation. Almost constant pcn.
sion legislation since the close of tho war.
which has resulted In placing upon the pen
sion rolls, on the LIST OF last July 3y. 5S3
pensioners, OF all classes--3oS. 600 Of whom
were survivors OF the war OF the Rebellion
and their widows and dependents aud for
whom <so,ooO.ooO have been appropriated
Tor the current year, and for whom sos .
Nfsll have been expended from 1881 10
July Il, 1885, While annually paving on,
such vast sum for pensions already
granted, II ~ now proposed, the President
says, by the bill TO award "A service pension
10 tho soldiers OF all wars In which the
United states has been engaged, including.
N,
pay those entitled 10 the benefits OF the act
the sum of twelve dollars per month. So
FAR as u relates TO the soldiers Of tho late
civil war the bounty II affords them Is given
thirteen yenrs earlier than II has been furn-
lshed TO the soldiers OF any other war and
before large number OF its bcnenciarics
have advanced in age beyond the strength
and vigor OF the prime OF life.
IL exacts only n military or naval service
Of three months without any requirements
oil actual engagement with an enemy In
battle, and without subjcction to any of
the actual dangers of war.
The pensions II awards il allowed TO on
listed men who have not suffered the least
injury, disability, loss or damage OF any
kind incurred in, or In any degree rcfcrable
to their military service including those
who never reached the front at all. and
those discharged from rcndezvouscs at the
close OF rho war, II discharged three months
after enlistment. Undcr the last call of the
President FOR troops In December. 1854
1888 men were furnished who were thus
discharged. Criucizing the section of the
bill allowing this pension the language of
which seems TO the President so uncertain
aud liable 20 such conflicting constructions
and To be subject 90 such unjust and mis-
chicvous application as to alone furnis1,
Nv,
President sayst Persons seeking 10 OBJ
tain the pension provided by this section
must be now or hereafter,
]. Suffering from mental or phi ysicaI disa-
bihty.
2 Such disability must not be the result
OF their own vicious habits or gross care
lcssness.
3 Such disability must be such as 10 In.
capactate them from the performance OF
labor In such degree as 10 render them un-
able TO earn "a support.
T. They must be dependent upon their
daily labor for support.
D. Upon proof of these conditions thcv
shall be placed on the list Of invalid pen
sioners OF the United States and be en-
titled TO receive for such total inability TO
procure their subsistence by daily labor.
twelve dollars per month
Passing on 20 consideration Of their
conditions, the President saws: at will be
observed that there is no limitation or def
milton OF the incapacitating injury or all.
ment itself IL need only be such degree
OF disability from any cause as renders the
claimant unable 10 earn a support by labor
IL seems 20 me that the support here men-
toned, as one which cannot be earned ia a
complete and entire support with no dimi.
milton on account Of the last impairment of
physical or mental condition. III Il had been
Intended 70 embrace only those who by
diseases or injury were totally unable 10
labor, IL would have been very easy TO ex.
press that idea instead OF recognizing. as is
done, degree OF such inability"
And then he asks: What ~ supporti
Who is TO determine whether man earns
n or has ~. or has II nOtl fs the govern.
ment 20 enter the homes Of claimants for
pensions and after an examination Of their
surroundings and circumstances settle
those questions,
Shall the government say 20 ono man that
his manner Of subsistence by his earnings
is a support, and TO another that the things
his earnings furnish are not support,
Any attempt, however honest, toadminister
this law ia such manner, would neccs.
sarily produce more unfairncss and unjust
discrimination and give more scope for
partisan Partially, and would result In
more Perversion Of the governments be
nevolcnt intentions than the execution Of
any statute ought TO permit
II In the effort 20 carry out the proposed
law the degree Of disability as related 20
earnings be considered for the purpose Of
showing. If In any way u curtails the SUP
port which the applicant, N entirely sound.
would earn and 20 which he is entitled, we
enter the broad field long occupied by the
Pension Bureau. and we recognize ~ the
only difference between the proposed legis-
lation and previous laws passed for the
surviving soldiers Of the civil war. the In.
currence in one case Of disabilities in mill
tary service, and In the other a sabilities ex-
isting, but in no way connected with or re-
sulting from such service. n must be- borne
In mind that In no case Is there any grading
Of this proposed pension Underthc opera
tiOn Of the rule first suggested, II there ~ a
lack Of any degree, great or small, of the
ability 70 earn such'a support az the GOV
ernment determines the claimant should
have, aud by the application Of the rule
secondly suggested, II there j. a reduction
IN any degree Of tho support which he might
earn II sound, he is entitled % "a pension OF
twelve dollars
In the latter case, and under the proviso
Of the proposed bill permitting persons
now receiving pensions 10 be- admitted 20
the benefits Of the act. ] do not sec how
those now on the pension role for disabili-
ties incurred in the service aud which d.
minish their earning capacity can be denied
the pension provided IN this bill
Another condition required of claimants
under this act IL that they shall be depend
ent upon their daily labor for support. IN
der the provisions Of this section any sol
der, the President thinks. whose faculties
Of mind and body have become impaired by
accident, disease or age, irrespective 81 his
service in the army. and who. BY his labor
only. IL left incapable Of gaining the fair
support he might, with unimpaircd powers.
49,. ,.,c,rfdon for htoaaatf and who ia rof